File photo of a timber-laden truck. Northeast Now

The Dhula Police in Darrang district on Friday seized smuggled timbers worth around Rs 4 lakh after the huge consignment was recovered from a truck which met with an accident on National Highway 15.

According to information, the smuggled timbers were recovered after the truck (bearing registration number NL 03-A-4470), laden with the smuggled timbers, parked on NH 15 near Dhula, was hit by another speeding vehicle causing damage to the truck.

Though the driver and the handyman of the timber-laden truck immediately fled from the spot, the police were able to seize the vehicle along with the timbers.

Also read:  SSB troopers seize huge consignment of illegal timber in Udalguri

The Dhula Police later handed over the timbers to the Forest Department.

It may be mentioned that as part of their continued efforts to curb anti-social activities along the Indo-Bhutan border, the troopers of 37 Battalion of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), BOP Bangurum have been able to recover a huge consignment of illegal timbers in Udalguri on April 2, 2018.

In the haul the troopers impounded huge cache of forest products.

Taking cognizance of the report that forest and trees are being cut by smugglers, a patrolling party of the SSB led by Head Constable Y Prem Kumar Singh of Border Out Post (BOP) Bangurum conducted a successful raid.

The seized items were handed over to the Forest office. The market value of the seized items was estimated to be nearly Rs 1 lakh, stated a press communique from the office of the commandant of 37th Bn, SSB, Mangaldoi. The Forest Department also started investigations for the persons responsible for illegally hacking down the timbers.